MIKAREN Purchases Panasonic SDX900
Rochester, NY June 12, 2006
Mikaren recently purchased the Panasonic SDX900, a dual-mode DVCPRO Cinema camcorder.
Panasonic’s AJ-SDX900 offers filmmakers the ultimate in acquisition flexibility, expressed in the operator-controllable selection of EFP-quality 4:2:2 sampled DVCPRO50 or classic 4:1:1 sampled DVCPRO recording, with support for native 16:9 wide-screen. The AJ-SDX900 combines in one camera the “look” and “feel” of electronic film, high-performance 525-line field production, and low-cost NTSC compatible news. It is also the first 50Mbps 4:2:2 sampled standard definition camcorder to offer 24 frames-per-second progressive scan (480/24p) acquisition, in addition to 30 frames-per-second progressive (480/30p) and 60-fields-per-second interlace scan (480/60i) capture.
Click here to view a sample (coming soon)

Buzzin’ in Boston
Rochester, NY [April 25, 2004]Mike Braden, Director of Photography for Mikaren Media, Inc., had the exciting opportunity to shoot commercials in Boston, MA for the CBS affiliate radio station WBZ (The Buzz). The shooting took place all over the Boston Metro area with the help of WBZ PR Director, Megan Gillespie, who organized the shoot locations and logistics. Hired by former Tech TV Creative Director, Joe Khirallah, Braden was thrilled to work with basketball (Paul Pierce-Celtics), hockey (Bruins), theater (Blue Man Group) and local celebrities, to help create an Ad Campaign to increase brand recognition for WBZ.
In reflecting back on the shoot Mike could only say “Paul Pierce is really tall, Bruin guy almost broke my hand when he shook it and The Blue Man Group are definitely part of a secret government cloning experiment.”

Karen Braden Elected to Board of Directors
ROCHESTER, N.Y. [April 5, 2004] - Karen Braden, President and Owner of MIKAREN Interactive, Video & Design, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Women’s Council of the Rochester Business Alliance. Karen brings her expertise of web and design work to the Women’s Council to help enhance their services to Rochester Area women in business. She also works with the Communications, PR and Publications Group at the Women’s Council to help increase awareness of the opportunities for women owned businesses and members of the Women’s Council.

When asked about her nomination and election to the board, Karen said, “I am honored and proud to be a part of a women’s organization that takes pride in helping and honoring women in business and the community. I Look forward to working with the business leaders of this community to help grow and strengthen the Greater Rochester Metro Area.” Mrs. Braden is also on the Steering Committee for the upcoming (May 6, 2004) event, Young Women of Distinction, which she says, “is a great event that helps to motivate and honor the future women leaders of tomorrow.”

For more information on Young Women of Distinction or becoming a member of Women’s Council go to: www.grwc.com .

More Hardware
ROCHESTER, N.Y. [March 29, 2004] - It has been an exciting year so far for awards. "Hitching a Ride on the Great Lakes", a project that Mike Braden worked on as Co-Director of Photography; in collaboration with the show Creator/Producer Dave Marshall and Post Central has won a NYS Emmy Award. Mike, Dave and some of the Post Central team: Gertrude Houston/Field Producer and Bryan Maslin/Co-Director of Photography spent the summer filming the award winning PBS Documentary. The show won its Emmy in the Educational Programming Series category. We're very proud and excited! Congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful project, especially Dave, Billy Lang, Gary Knaak and John Marianetti for all their support in this project.
To view the Sailing Show promos follow this link: http://www.mikaren.comhttp://www.mikaren.com/video.htm .
We are also pleased to announce that a commercial that we shot for Paul Novak, of Novak Media, recently won first place in the American Association of Political Consultants 2004 'Pollie' Award,' for best local television advertisement. The award was for a thirty-second branding spot entitled "Numbers," produced for 1199 SEIU, New York's Health Care Union, and aired in the Albany market.

View the ad here: http://www.novakmedia.net/award.htm (windows media player)

Every year the Pollies rotate between political and public affairs advertising. They're considered the most prestigious awards given in the political arena.

If you would like to see more of our hardware collection (awards that we have been honored to win) click here.

Showing them love
Happiness House of the Finger Lakes and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester have each opened their doors to MIKAREN Interactive, Video & Design. Karen Braden, Lead Designer at MIKAREN, has been working with Kay Christiansen and the folks at Happiness House for over a year on several design projects. After redesigning the Happiness House web site Karen and MIKAREN Interactive were commissioned to do the Happiness House Capitol Campaign brochure and posters for the Annual Fundraising event. Along with these extensive print pieces she also designed their new Capitol Campaign Logo, incorporating the old Happiness House of the Finger Lakes logo with a fresh new look. “Working with Kay and the folks at Happiness House has really been a satisfying project,” says Karen. “It feels great knowing that with our work; we are helping others in need, to achieve their dreams.”

If you would like to learn more about the Happiness House of the Finger Lakes and how you can help click here.
If you would like to see more of our web and graphic design pieces click here.

Mike Braden, Director of Photography for MIKAREN Interactive, has had the wonderful opportunity to create the Ronald McDonald House Capitol Campaign video for the past two years. Braden, who produced, directed, shot and edited the two videos, was deeply moved by the people he worked with on the project. “As a working father with children I can’t imagine the pain that these families have endured with their children,” said Braden. “When you talk about heroes, these families are the bravest people I have yet to meet. The real credit goes to them for helping make the video possible.”
Lori Bowman, Public Relations Specialist at the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, says “The Ronald McDonald House Red Tie Gala, our annual fundraiser for the house, raised $70,000.00 last year. Our Capital Campaign for, A House within a Hospital, has raised $200,000.00 so far this year. The videos produced by Mike Braden and MIKAREN Interactive have been a huge part of our fundraising success. In fact, the videos were so well received that they are being recognized by McDonalds Corporation at their regional and international meetings.”

If you would like to learn more about the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester and how you can help click here.
If you would like to see a clip of the RMH video click here.
If you would like to see more of our film and video work click here.

MIKAREN & Rochester Business Alliance Women's Council Launch New Web Site
Rochester, NY [September 10, 2002] - Mikaren Media, Inc., a full-service web and graphic firm based in Rochester, NY, has just completed the Greater Rochester Women's Councils web site.

Karen Braden, co-owner and designer at Mikaren Media worked with Andria Paul of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Margaret Trevett, the Women's Council president on the site. The site includes extensive information and photos detailing the Women's Councils sponsorship of the ATHENA Award, The Young Woman of Distinction Award and the IT Women of the Year.

"The website received raving reviews." said Andria Paul, Chamber of Commerce Liaison to the Women's Council, "We really enjoyed working with Karen."

Karen Braden specializes in web, graphic and presentation design work. She has been a designer for over eight years and works with a wide range of Rochester Companies. Karen is a member of and certified by the International Webmasters Association.

DELL/University at Buffalo Film Shoot/ What a Cluster!
Buffalo, NY- [August 2002]Mike Braden, Director of Photography (DP) for Mikaren Media, got the call from Paul Allen’s (Microsoft) Tech TV to shoot a two minute story about the collaboration between DellComputerCorporation and the University at Buffalo on the research of the human genome. Shot on Super 16mm film, at DELL’s request, the story shows the amount of research and computing power it takes to breakdown the humane genome. Dell provided the University with a single Linux Cluster containing more than 2000 dual processor Dell Power Edge Servers and more than 4000 Intel Xeon and Pentium III Processors. The cluster connects to a 16 Terabyte Dell EMC Storage Area Network. According to Dr. Jeffery Skolnik, Director, Buffalo Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics, “a thousand years of calculations on the human genome has been reduced to a single year thanks to the partnership between Dell and UB.”

Braden used an Aaton Super 16mm XTR Prod film camera with three different lenses for the shoot. He called on Mammoth Productions for lighting, dutch-head, dolly, track and grip truck. Also on the shoot were Rochester locals; Tracy Stopa, as 1st AC and JR Kraus as Grip. Buffalo locals; Dave Gurney, Gaffer and Rick Seaberg, Dolly grip were part of the crew as well. “We really couldn’t have pulled the shoot off without the crew,” said Braden. “They worked hard and fast to make sure that we stayed on time and budget.”
“Especially Tracy (Stopa), she was the Mother Hen to all of us.”

Favorite shots of the shoot were in the research lab and the server farm. In the lab the crew was very excited about shooting dry ice being crushed for an experiment with a mortar and pestle set. Mike Braden noted that “even with all this technology they still do some things the old fashioned way.” The server farm took up this immense room that required a thirty foot dolly shot to show all of the equipment. After seeing the size of the server farm, DP Braden could only say, “What a cluster!”

Interview With The Rolling Stones
TORONTO CANADA [August 5, 2002] - Mike Braden, Director of Photography for Mikaren Media, Inc., had the exciting opportunity to interview the Rolling Stones in Toronto this past August. The interviews took place at the old Masonic Temple, now CTV Studios on Yong Street. Braden; along with his brother Craig, also a DP; were hired by an New York City agency to shoot the interviews on Super 16mm film, Beta SP video and Digital video. The footage will be used throughout The Stones' tour for commercials for the new CD "40 Licks". An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) was also created for local news stations in each city of the tour. Look for more of the footage on an upcoming VH1 Special on The Stones in January 2003.

MIKAREN Wins Two More Telly Awards For Video Production
Rochester, NY [June 21, 2002] - Mikaren Media, Inc., a full-service creative design & video production firm based in Rochester, NY, was just awarded its fourteenth & fifteenth Telly Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the television, commercial and video industry.

Mike Braden, President of Mikaren Media, won the awards for Director of Photography in the videos; "Come Take a Look" and "Fostering the Arts" produced for Monroe #1 BOCES. "Come Take a Look", showcases the School of Performing Arts at East Ridge High School Program. "Fostering the Arts", showcases the Summer School of the Arts program at Nazareth College.

Braden partnered with Shane Grant of shanereaction, a marketing and communications company also based in Rochester, to develop a look and direction to document the stories of these two Arts Programs.

"As Director of Photography, Mike is really outstanding," said Shane Grant, owner and producer at shanereaction. "He really listens to your needs, and then collaborates with you to find a creative way to best tell the story to the target audience." Ms. Grant continues, "I am thrilled to have won two more Telly's with Mikaren for the second year in a row." The shanereaction and Mikaren Media team won a Telly Award last year for a corporate marketing video for Xerox Corporation.

Mike Braden specializes in high-end lighting and shot composition. His work has taken him all over the U.S. and the world, from Africa to Cuba to Woodstock, New York. His clients have ranged from the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones to Fox Football to ortune 500 corporations including Kodak, Xerox, Ford, Coca-Cola and IBM. His commitment to his work over the past fifteen years has now earned him fifteen Telly Awards, three Communicator Awards and one Cine Golden Eagle.

Mikaren Media, Inc. begins offering HTML News Letters/e-mails.
Rochester, NY [June 12, 2002] – After months and months of developing web sites, I thought it would be a nice way to keep in touch with our friends and clients”, said Karen Kircher Braden, Web and Graphic Designer at Mikaren Media. “It allows us to let our clients know what we have been doing and also gives them notice of any new creative ways to economically reach potential customers.”

Click here to take a look.

Mikaren Media Wins Telly Award
Rochester, NY [May 14, 2002] – Mikaren Media, Inc., a full-service creative design & video production firm based in Rochester, NY, earned its thirteenth Telly Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the television, commercial and video industry.

Mike Braden, President of MIKAREN, won the award for Director of Photography in the video "Teaching in Rochester/ Rewarding in Every Way" produced for the Rochester City School District (RCSD). The video showcases the experiences of four relatively new RCSD teachers and appears on a CD to recruit new teachers for the district. The CD also includes an employment application and hot links to myrochester.com and RCSD web sites.

Mikaren worked closely with the Rochester-based advertising agency Saphar & Associates to create the RCSD video.

“As Director of Photography, Mike is really outstanding,” said Michael Collins, creative director at Saphar & Associates. “He really listens to your needs, then always finds a creative way to best get your message across to your target audience.” Mr. Collins continues, “We’re thrilled to have won a Telly with Mikaren for the second year in a row.” The Saphar and Mikaren team won a Telly last year for a corporate video for Lapp Insulator Co.

Mike Braden specializes in high-end lighting and shot composition. His work has taken him all over the U.S. and the world, from Africa to Cuba to Woodstock, New York. His clients have ranged from the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones to Fox Football to Fortune 500 corporations including Kodak, Xerox, Ford, Coca-Cola and IBM. His commitment to his work over the past fifteen years has earned him thirteen Telly Awards, three Communicator Awards and one Cine Golden Eagle.

MIKAREN Media and Ethany Corporation Launch New Site
Rochester, NY [February 5, 2002] – Mikaren Media is happy to announce the launch of a web site created for Ethany Corporation, a software developer who specializes in business solutions. Click here to view Ethany Corporation's new web site.

New Documentary On Great Lakes Created By Rochester Crews
Rochester, NY [February 26, 2002]In case any one is missing summer during the past few months, tune in to WXXI on March 16th, 2002 @ 4:00pm. You will not want to miss “Hitching a Ride on the Great Lakes”. It is wonderful story about boating on Lake Ontario. Mike Braden had the great opportunity to work as one of the DP’s on the show. He covered the show from all angles including AERIALS and shooting underwater with a SUBMERSIBLE BetacamSP Unit. He also shot on boats ranging from little skiffs to one of the TALL SHIPS. Mike would like to thank Dave Marshall & Post Central for this wonderful opportunity. It was FUN, FUN, FUN.

MIKAREN Media and Creative Outlook Launch New Site
Rochester, NY [January 10, 2002] - Mikaren Media and Creative Outlook, a local company specializing in the production of unique handcrafted gifts are happy to announce the launch of Creative Outlook's new web site.